Kamala Harris is poised to reveal her running mate as early as Monday, as she gears up for a crucial tour of US battleground states. The announcement will come ahead of her five-day campaign swing starting Tuesday in Pennsylvania, the largest and most coveted swing state in the upcoming presidential race.
Harris, the first female, Black, and South Asian vice president, recently secured enough delegate votes to clinch the Democratic nomination. With the national convention in Chicago two weeks away, she has maintained full control of the Democratic Party.
“This campaign is about people coming together, fueled by love of country, to fight for the best of who we are,” Harris posted on X, emphasizing the choice between a future-focused vision and a regressive past.
In the early days of her campaign, the 59-year-old former prosecutor has shattered fundraising records, drawn large crowds, and dominated social media, effectively erasing the polling leads that Donald Trump had built before President Joe Biden exited the race.
The next major move is the selection of her vice presidential running mate. The announcement is expected before her rally Tuesday evening in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania’s largest city. Pennsylvania, along with Michigan and Wisconsin, is part of the critical “blue wall” that helped Biden win the White House in 2020. Harris is scheduled to visit these states, with Michigan and Wisconsin slated for Wednesday.
Pennsylvania is currently governed by Democrat Josh Shapiro, a top contender for the vice presidential slot, along with fellow governors Tim Walz and Andy Beshear, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly, and US Transport Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
Following her Pennsylvania visit, Harris will campaign in the racially diverse Sun Belt and southern states, including Arizona, Nevada, Georgia, and North Carolina, aiming to consolidate support from Black and Hispanic voters.
Trump, who was leading in swing state polls just a month ago, saw his bid disrupted when Biden, facing concerns over his age and polling numbers, exited the race on July 21 and endorsed Harris. The vice president, 20 years younger than Trump, has quickly amassed $310 million in July alone, more than double Trump’s fundraising total.
While Biden’s campaign emphasized civility and democracy, Harris has focused on the future, framing voters’ freedom as central to her platform. Her campaign has been notably more aggressive, criticizing Trump for retracting his commitment to a September 10 debate and portraying him as an elderly crook.
Although Harris has distanced herself from some leftist positions from her 2020 primary campaign, she has yet to give a comprehensive interview since entering the race. Rally-goers are anticipating more details on her policy plans. Meanwhile, Trump and his allies have struggled to refine their attacks on Harris, initially labeling her as too liberal on immigration and crime before questioning her racial identity.